A former Senior Special Assistant to the Executive Governor of Ondo State on Special Interest, Apostle Temitope Olowofoyekun Dadeowo, popularly known as Tope Liberty Cares, has launched a strong criticism of what he described as the persistent use of insults, misinformation and unsubstantiated allegations in political discourse, urging JAF to immediately abandon what he called a “politics of bitterness” and embrace a more responsible approach to public engagement.
Tope Liberty , in a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday, said no democratic society could survive when political disagreements were reduced to personal attacks, character assassination and deliberate attempts to ridicule constituted authority.
He stressed that while every citizen has the constitutional right to criticise public office holders, such criticism must be rooted in facts, evidence and a genuine desire to improve governance, rather than personal vendetta or political desperation.
According to him, “Democracy gives us the right to disagree, but it does not give anyone the licence to insult, defame or deliberately spread falsehoods against those entrusted with public responsibilities.”
Tope Liberty warned that the continuous abuse of public discourse through personal attacks does not strengthen democracy, but rather weakens institutions and encourages a dangerous culture where disrespect is mistaken for political courage.
He particularly condemned what he described as JAF’s repeated pattern of attacking individuals occupying positions of authority in Ondo State, accusing him of relying on disrespectful rhetoric and allegations that, in his view, lack credible evidence.
The former governor’s aide challenged JAF to produce facts and evidence to support his allegations, instead of allegedly resorting to social media attacks and inflammatory statements.
Tope Liberty also invoked the cherished values of Yoruba culture, noting that respect for elders and constituted authority has always been deeply rooted in the traditions of the people.
He said disagreement is not alien to Yoruba society, but that even the fiercest political differences are expected to be expressed with wisdom, restraint and dignity.
“Our culture teaches us to challenge ideas and policies, not to ridicule personalities or deliberately undermine the offices they occupy,” he said.
Tope Liberty described the political narrative being promoted by JAF as unacceptable, insisting that it contributes nothing meaningful to the development of Ondo State.
He urged well-meaning citizens to reject what he called a politics driven by bitterness, personal ambition and material interests, saying such an approach only distracts the public from issues that genuinely affect the people.
The former SSA further questioned the propriety of publicly disparaging an elder and constituted authority from whom an individual had previously benefited, describing such conduct as a troubling display of ingratitude and poor judgment.
He said political maturity demands that individuals who disagree with government policies should present alternative ideas and constructive solutions instead of resorting to insults and personal attacks.
He also maintained that accountability remains an essential part of democracy, but insisted that accountability must be based on truth, evidence and reason.
“Politics should not be a battlefield where every disagreement becomes an excuse for character assassination. Those who genuinely want to serve the people must be prepared to engage on issues, provide facts and offer solutions,” he stated.
He therefore challenged JAF to move beyond what he described as “politics of personal attacks” and begin to contribute positively to the political conversation in Ondo State.
Tope Liberty Cares called on political leaders, stakeholders and citizens to defend the dignity of public institutions and promote a political culture where criticism is encouraged but insults, misinformation and baseless allegations are rejected.
He warned that if politics continues to be driven by bitterness and personal vendettas, the greatest casualty will not be any individual politician but the people and institutions of Ondo State.
The former SSA urged residents to demand a higher standard of political discourse, stressing that Ondo State deserves leaders and political actors who can disagree without destroying one another and who can criticise without abandoning decency, truth and respect.
